Politics and Governance

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Gaza Heads Into Famine as Gulf Countries Scramble to Respond

With aid, public criticism, and diplomatic maneuver, Gulf countries are confronting Israel’s military action in Gaza and weighing how bad the situation could get.

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Iran's 2024 Elections: Vote Without Voters

Does a voter boycott matter in a country that is not a democracy, and is there a correlation between lack of electoral participation and political violence?

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No Good Options: The U.S. Dilemma in Yemen

While not yet successful, the Biden administration’s “deter and degrade” approach may prove to be an adaptable approach that can be modified into a winning strategy.

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Becoming “Neutral”: Addressing the Increasing Stakes of Qatar’s Hamas Mediation

To adapt to the post-October 7 environment, Qatar may need to abandon some long-standing policies and reemerge as a truly neutral broker and mediator.

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The End of Mandatory Hijab in Iran?

Should the Islamic Republic utilize the March 1 elections to end effective enforcement of the hijab law, it will remove a source of constant friction between state and society in Iran, but the regime will also lose an instrument of intimidating the urban middle class.

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Iran: Republic of Distrust

Forty-five years after the revolution and establishment of the Islamic Republic, the regime in Tehran is not only widely distrusted but has also sown the seeds of distrust among Iranians.

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Iran: Republic of God in an Increasingly Secular Society

Having failed to shape the society to its liking, can the Islamic Republic adapt to a society that is increasingly demanding separation between religion and state?

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Why the Saudi-Iranian Pact Is Withstanding the Gaza War

The Gaza war has demonstrated the strategic utility and resilience of the detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran. However, its longer-term sustainability may depend on unpredictable regional dynamics or other outside factors.

A Masterpiece Without an Audience: Khalid Al Siddiq and the Gulf’s First Narrative Feature Film

Despite its groundbreaking legacy, today, “Bas ya Bahar,” cannot be easily viewed in its full visual glory.

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Through its careful examination of the forces shaping the evolution of Gulf societies and the new generation of emerging leaders, AGSIW facilitates a richer understanding of the role the countries in this key geostrategic region can be expected to play in the 21st century.

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